II John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

There is a connection between love and God's principles. You can't have love without Him, or without His commandments. His commandments show love that is faithful, true and one of integrity. Love cares, is sacrificial, even confrontational when needed. Love is strong, dynamic, and builds up not tears down. Free love doesn't exist.

Love comes with responsibilities and obligations.

Psalm 15:1-3 LORD, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; he does not backbite with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor;...

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:02 AM CDT

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Psalm 14:1 MKJV The fool has said in his heart, There is no God! They acted corruptly; they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.

When an awful crime is committed, people speculate how could anyone could do such and such. When judges aren't just, we're angry and don't comprehend. Yet, the answer is simple. Righteousness, justice, compassion, love emanate from God in Jesus.The further someone is from a relationship with Christ (regardless of what might be claimed), the less, good, honorable and just that person or society will be.

Laws do not change a person's heart. Only God can do that. If we want a society not rife with perversion and evil, Christ-followers must stand up, get our lives squared away with what is right and impact those around us with the gospel message of sin, sacrifice and salvation in Jesus Christ.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:29 AM CDT

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Oh Lord my God, I cried unto you, and you have healed me. Psalm 30:12

He is...When
(c) 2008 Carolyn R Scheidies

He is
The light in the darkness
Chasing away the shadows,
Offering hope
When I wish to give up,
Offering comfort
When I come to Him.

http://IDealinHope.com/author

Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 12:47 PM CDT

Updated: Wednesday, 9 July 2008 12:56 PM CDT

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I John 5:2-4 MKJV By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
 
There is no way around it. We cannot claim the name of Christ or "Christian" if we don't follow His commands. It is like saying, "I'm an American" while serving the enemy. It puts us in the camp of hypocrites, cheaters and liars.
 
If we claim the name of Christ, we need to know Him, communicate with Him, listen to Him, as well as read, study and follow the principles laid out in His Word.
 
Am I truly following Him or am I an"in name only" Christian?

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:54 AM CDT

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I John 4:8-9 MKJV The one who does not love has not known God. For God is love. In this the love of God was revealed in us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.
 
When things don't go our way. When others don't respond or react as we think they should, what do we do? Bring the matter before God in sadness, or get angry and send out hate mail?
 
While God calls us to confront evil, He also calls us to love people. We can't love and hate at the same time. We can be saddened by an action or behavior and still love the person through Christ within.
 
When we react in hateful ways, we show Christ is not directing our ways and call into question not only who we are, but also whom we represent. Something to keep in mind when anger flares and we're tempted to respond in hateful ways. (We need to focus on the problem, not denigrate the person.)
 
V.11, Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ...And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 5:52 AM CDT

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So far today, God,
I've done all right...
I haven't gossiped.
I haven't been grumpy, nasty or selfish.
I'm really glad of that,
But in a few minutes, God,
I'm going to get out of bed.
From now on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.
                        --Source/Author Unknown

Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-34

We choose the direction of our day and our attitudes. God's way or ours. Those choices make all the difference.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:26 AM CDT

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I John 2:4-5 MKJV He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. Bythis we know that we are in Him.

Christians are getting a bad rap these days. Often deserved. Often not. The reason. Many claim the name of Christ who have only a vague concept of who He is, have less knowledge of His Word and believe they can do what feels good and it's ok. It's not. We've raised a generation with only a faint idea of who God is and what He requires.

As Christ followers we need to realize these people are lost for eternity unless we truly live for Christ from knowledge and share His image of grace and life with those around us.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:56 AM CDT

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Psalm 6:2-3 MKJV Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is exceedingly troubled; but You, O LORD, how long?

I hate not being in control. Yet so much of my life is out of my control--disability & limitations, the food sensitivities that have plagued me the last few years, my struggle in my writing/speaking career, finances... Need I say more?

I struggle. I fight, argue, plead and get angry at God. But, you know what I learned as a very sick teen? God doesn't want phony, shallow followers. Our struggles with Him, life and faith are no surprise to Him. Only as we're real with Him, does He become real to us.

If we come to Him, He answers, not always the prayer on our lips, but always the need of our hearts.

v.9 The LORD has heard my cry; the LORD will receive my prayer.

Psalm 7:17 MKJV I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:47 AM CDT

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II Peter 3:18 Mkjv But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

How do we deal with growing apostacy around us? By clinging to Jesus, by developing our relationship with Him through communication, in knowledge of His Word, through reading, study, memorization and listening as God speaks through His Word to us.

We will fall away or not be effective for God if we fill our minds with the world's ways, perversions and philosophies. Only as we focus on Him will we understand truth from error, follow His light and have His peace inside.

Psalm 5:11-12 MKJV But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them always shout for joy, because You defend them. And let those who love Your name be joyful in You. For You; O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:55 AM CDT

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Psalm 2:12c MKKV Blessed are all who put their trust in Him.

We desire God's blessings. We want God to smile on us and favor us with prosperity in all our endeavors.

What we do not want is God's interference in our lives and we, certainly, resist the urge to submit to His will and guidance.

Yet, blessing, favor and properity don't happen without a decision to know Christ and to seek to follow and serve Him.

The equation is simple: trusting God=blessings.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:39 AM CDT

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II Peter 1:13, 15 MKJV But I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by a reminder,... And I will also be diligent to cause you to always have memory of these things after my departure.

We forget so easily. That's one reason candidates know they can twist the truth about their positions; we don't keep in mind what they said yesterday much less last year. We also forget our own words and misdeeds.

Even worse, we remember our complaints but not our blessings. How much better to deliberately recall God's blessings in our lives and bow before him in gratitude.

Psalm 1:1-2 MKJV Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is only in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 7:21 AM CDT

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I Peter 3: 10 GW For, He who would love life, And see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

We live in a culture where we somehow think it is healthy to spew out any thing that comes into our minds no matter how hurtful to ourselves or others around us. Furthermore, people do it for even the promise of monetary rewards.

We've become shallow and destructive. Speaking without thinking leads not to good, but to evil.

Want good in your life and in your relationships? Before speaking, consider the truth and effect of your words, whether they should be spoken, and the consequences both positive and negative. Maybe it is time to learn restraint in what we say that we may not only be blessed, but bless others not only by what we say, but also by what we don't say.

V.11-12 GW Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears open to their prayer; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:51 AM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 29 June 2008 8:53 AM CDT

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I Peter 1:15-16 GW But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life. Scripture says, "Be holy,because I am holy."

Garbage in, garbage oit. As it is with computers so it is with us. What we allow into our minds, hearts and relationships will eventually be reflected in our actions.

Focus on hurtful, evil, perverse things and we'll grow coarse, uncaring, jaded, angry and disillusioned. Focus on what is true and good and righteous and our lives will reflect love, kindness and joy.

Seeking to be holy, is seeking to know and follow God, not to a set of regulations, but to the very heart of love.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:45 AM CDT

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James 5:11 GW We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job's endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job's suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
 
It seems to have gone on so long. I pray, read & study God's Word, I try to live right and within my means. Yet, I'm still blocked, seeing no way out. Everything crumbles under my hands.
 
All I have is God. All I have is hope. I will cling, sing of my blessings, hanging on no matter what. Trusting--somehow--finances will be at hand when the next bill arrives.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:07 AM CDT

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